Is TiviMate free or do I need to pay for it?

TiviMate itself is free to install from the Google Play Store. However, to unlock features like multiple playlists, catch-up TV, recordings, and the favorites panel, you need TiviMate Premium, which costs around $5.99 per year — an extremely reasonable price for what you get.

How do I add an EPG to TiviMate?

During initial setup, TiviMate prompts you to add an EPG source after you enter your M3U playlist. Add your provider's XMLTV URL in the EPG field. You can also add or change it later by going to Settings > EPG Sources. TiviMate will download and map the EPG automatically.

Can TiviMate record live TV?

Yes, TiviMate Premium includes a DVR recording feature. You can record live channels to local storage on your Android device or an attached USB drive. You can also schedule recordings in advance through the EPG grid. This feature requires TiviMate Premium.

Why isn't TiviMate available on Firestick directly?

TiviMate is not in the Amazon Appstore, so it cannot be installed from the Fire TV app store directly. On Firestick, you need to sideload TiviMate using the Downloader app to install it from an external APK source. Once installed, it runs perfectly on Fire TV devices.

TiviMate Setup Guide: Complete Configuration Walkthrough

Key Takeaways

TiviMate is widely considered the best IPTV player for Android TV, Fire TV, and Google TV devices due to its clean EPG interface and stable performance
Premium features like recordings, multiple playlists, catch-up, and auto-update cost about $5.99/year and are worth every cent
Installation on Firestick requires sideloading via the Downloader app since TiviMate isn't in the Amazon Appstore
EPG configuration is key — without a properly mapped XMLTV feed, you lose the program guide that makes TiviMate so powerful

TiviMate has earned its reputation as the go-to IPTV player for Android-based devices. Whether you're running it on a Fire TV Stick, a Chromecast with Google TV, an Nvidia Shield, or an Android TV box, TiviMate delivers a polished, cable-TV-like experience that most competing apps can't match. But getting it configured correctly — especially the EPG, recordings, and multi-playlist setup — takes a bit of know-how. This complete TiviMate setup guide walks through every step from installation to advanced configuration.

What Is TiviMate and Why Use It?

TiviMate is an IPTV player that takes your provider's M3U playlist and turns it into a beautifully organized channel guide with real-time program information. Rather than showing you a raw list of channel links, TiviMate presents channels grouped by category, displayed in an EPG (Electronic Program Guide) grid, with upcoming show information, recording capabilities, and catch-up TV support.

Compared to other players, TiviMate stands out because:

Its EPG grid is the most responsive and visually clear in the category
It supports Xtream Codes API (not just M3U)
Premium is a one-time/annual purchase, not a recurring subscription per device
The interface is fully remote-control optimized for TV use

For a full player comparison, see TiviMate vs IPTV Smarters — but most users who try both end up sticking with TiviMate.

Devices TiviMate Supports

| Device Type | Available From | Notes | |---|---|---| | Android TV / Google TV | Google Play Store | Direct install, simplest | | Chromecast with Google TV | Google Play Store | Works great with remote | | Nvidia Shield | Google Play Store | Best hardware for TiviMate | | Amazon Fire TV / Firestick | Sideload via Downloader | Not in Amazon Appstore | | Android TV Box (generic) | Google Play Store | Varies by box | | Android Phone/Tablet | Google Play Store | Works but not TV-optimized |

Installing TiviMate on Android TV / Google TV

This is the simplest install path:

Step 1: Open Google Play Store

Navigate to the Google Play Store on your Android TV device. Sign in with your Google account if not already signed in.

Step 2: Search for TiviMate

Type "TiviMate IPTV Player" in the search bar. The app by "TiviMate" should appear at the top. Select it and click Install.

Step 3: Open TiviMate

Once installed, launch TiviMate from your apps. The setup wizard will launch automatically on first run.

Installing TiviMate on Amazon Firestick (Sideload Method)

Since TiviMate isn't in the Amazon Appstore, you need to sideload it. This sounds complicated but takes about 5 minutes.

Step 1: Enable Apps from Unknown Sources

Go to Settings > My Fire TV > Developer Options and turn on Apps from Unknown Sources. This allows you to install APK files not sourced from Amazon.

Step 2: Install Downloader

Search the Amazon Appstore for "Downloader by AFTVnews" — it's a free, legitimate app. Install it. This is the tool you'll use to download the TiviMate APK.

Step 3: Open Downloader and Enter the TiviMate URL

Open Downloader. In the URL bar, type the URL for the TiviMate APK. You can find the current official APK URL on the TiviMate website (tivimate.com) or from IPTV community resources. Tap Go to download the file.

Step 4: Install the APK

Once downloaded, Downloader will prompt you to install. Tap Install, wait for it to complete, then tap Done. TiviMate is now installed on your Firestick. For more detail on Firestick-specific steps, see our best IPTV player for Firestick guide.

Pro Tip: After installing TiviMate via Downloader, go back and delete the APK file from Downloader's file manager to free up storage space on your Firestick.

Initial TiviMate Configuration: Adding Your Playlist

When you first open TiviMate, the setup wizard walks you through adding your first playlist.

Step 1: Select "Add Playlist"

The wizard will present this option automatically. Tap it.

Step 2: Choose Your Playlist Type

TiviMate offers three input methods:

| Option | When to Use | |---|---| | M3U Playlist | You have an M3U URL from your provider | | Xtream Codes API | You have a server URL, username, and password | | Local File | You have an M3U file saved on the device |

Most providers will give you either an M3U URL or Xtream Codes credentials. If you have a username and password with a server address, use Xtream Codes — it provides better integration and allows TiviMate to separately organize Live TV, Movies, and Series.

Step 3: Enter Your Playlist Details

For M3U: Paste the full M3U URL. Give it a name (e.g., your provider's name).

For Xtream Codes: Enter the server URL (e.g., http://provider.com:8080), your username, and your password. TiviMate will connect and import everything automatically.

Step 4: Add an EPG Source

On the next screen, TiviMate asks for an EPG source. This is your XMLTV URL — your provider should supply it. Enter it here. TiviMate will begin downloading the EPG data immediately after setup completes.

If your provider supplies EPG data via Xtream Codes, TiviMate may detect and configure it automatically.

Step 5: Finish and Load

Tap Finish. TiviMate will load your channel list. Depending on playlist size, this may take 30 seconds to 2 minutes. Once complete, you'll see your channel groups in the left panel and the EPG grid on the right.

TiviMate Premium: Is It Worth It?

TiviMate's free version covers basic playback. Premium unlocks:

Multiple playlist support (useful if you have more than one IPTV provider)
DVR / recording to local storage
Catch-up TV (replay past programming)
Favorite channels panel
Auto EPG updates
Full screen panel customization
Multiple concurrent stream monitoring

At roughly $5.99/year, TiviMate Premium is one of the best value purchases in IPTV. To activate it, install the TiviMate Companion app from the Play Store (or sideload it on Firestick), then purchase Premium through that companion app, which unlocks it on your TiviMate install.

Advanced TiviMate Settings Worth Configuring

Once your playlist is loading and the EPG is populated, spend a few minutes in Settings to optimize the experience.

Player Settings

Go to Settings > Player:

Buffer Size: Increase to 15–30 seconds if you experience occasional buffering
Decoder: Set to "Auto" initially. If playback has issues, try switching between hardware and software decoders
Aspect Ratio: Set to "16:9" for most streams

EPG Settings

Go to Settings > EPG:

Enable Auto Update and set it to daily (overnight is best)
Set Days of EPG to 7 for the most complete guide coverage
Use Match by Name if channels aren't matching properly to their EPG data

Channel Organization

TiviMate respects the groups defined in your M3U playlist. You can:

Hide groups you don't want (sports packages, foreign language groups, etc.) by long-pressing a group in the channel list
Reorder groups by dragging in Settings > Playlist > Manage Groups
Create a Favorites panel with your most-watched channels for one-click access

Parental Controls

If children use the same device, go to Settings > Parental Control to set a PIN that locks access to specific channel groups or the whole app.

Setting Up DVR Recording in TiviMate

TiviMate Premium's recording feature works like a basic DVR. Here's how to set it up:

Go to Settings > Recordings
Set the Recordings Folder to a location on your device (internal storage or USB drive)
To record a live channel: while watching, press the record button in the playback controls, or long-press a program in the EPG to schedule a future recording
Recordings are saved as video files you can play back later through TiviMate's Archive section

Pro Tip: Firestick storage is limited. If you plan to record frequently, connect a USB drive via an OTG hub to expand available storage. An external drive with 64GB or more gives you several hours of HD recording capacity.

Fixing Common TiviMate Issues

Channels load but EPG is empty: Check your XMLTV URL is correct and the EPG source is enabled in Settings > EPG. Try forcing a manual refresh. EPG data from some providers can take 10–15 minutes to fully populate.

Channels won't play / black screen: Your M3U link may have expired. Log in to your provider's portal to regenerate it, then update the playlist URL in TiviMate Settings > Playlists > [your playlist] > URL.

TiviMate crashes on Firestick: Clear the app's cache: go to Fire TV Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications > TiviMate > Clear Cache. If it persists, reinstall.

EPG not matching channels: Go to Settings > EPG > Edit Channels and manually match channels to their EPG entries. Also check that "Match by EPG ID" is enabled if your provider includes EPG IDs in their M3U.

Recording fails: Check that your storage path is set correctly and that you have sufficient free space. TiviMate needs write permission to the chosen folder.

Conclusion

TiviMate is the closest thing to a proper cable TV experience that IPTV can offer, and once it's configured correctly, it just works. The combination of a clean EPG grid, stable playback, and DVR functionality makes it the obvious choice for anyone who wants to use IPTV as a genuine cable replacement.

If you're still setting up your overall IPTV system, check out our full IPTV player comparison for 2026 and the guide to fixing EPG issues in TiviMate for troubleshooting the EPG specifically. For Firestick users, the best IPTV apps for Fire Stick guide covers your full range of options alongside TiviMate. And if you're not yet subscribed to a service, our top IPTV provider picks will help you find one worth pairing with TiviMate's excellent interface.